Panel List and Descriptions

Since we’re headed to Florida, the Programming Committee wants to make this the hottest Convention yet! This is a work in progress, so check back regularly for updates on topics and panelists (click panelist name to see online bio or be connected to their LinkedIn profiles). As always, we welcome topic submissions and speaker suggestions at panels@sabanorthamerica.com.

The U.S. Government’s Global Crackdown on Tax Evasion: Where It Has Been and Where It Is GoingTax

Since the global financial crisis and the U.S. government’s pursuit of Swiss bank UBS in 2008, the U.S. authorities have been relentless in pursuing banks, professional advisers, and taxpayers, in an effort to end offshore tax evasion. The government is attacking offshore tax evasion with three weapons: 1) criminal investigation and prosecution, 2) the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2010 (FATCA), and 3) the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP). Americans of South Asian origin often have financial ties to their countries of origin, placing them squarely in the sights of U.S. authorities. In addition, South Asian financial institutions hold large numbers of accounts that qualify under FATCA as “U.S. accounts” that they must report to the U.S. IRS. The IRS and DOJ have made no secret of their interest in the interplay between Americans of South Asian origin and South Asian financial institutions. This panel will explore the recent history and near future of the U.S. government’s worldwide crackdown on tax evasion, with an emphasis on its impact on Americans of South Asian origin and financial institutions that do business in South Asia. Our panelists are Nanette Davis, Senior Litigation Counsel, DOJ Tax Division Criminal Enforcement; Forrest Knorr, Director, International Field Operations, West; International Operations Criminal Investigation, IRS; Parag Patel, Partner, Patel Law Offices; and Jay Nanavati, Counsel, Baker Hotstetler.

One Year Later: A Look at the Election of Narendra Modi and the BJP and its impact on Law and Business in IndiaInternational

This panel discussion will look at the current impact that Narendra Modi is having on India’s legal system, particularly with respect to business and the liberalization of legal services. In an effort to attract more investment in India, the Government has prospered changes to outdated laws and proposed fast-track courts. The BJP Government has also proposed liberalizing the legal services sector, which prohibits foreign law firms from operating in India under the Advocates Act of 1961. Further changes are being considered from India’s Arbitration Act with a vision to make India an Arbitration Center of Asia. Join the distinguished panelist as we discuss the important legal changes in India and its impact on legal market in the U.S. Panelists will include Amy Hariani, Director & Legal Policy Counsel, U.S.-India Business Council; and Sridhar Gorthi, Partner, Trilegal.

Color by Number: Serial‘s Adnan Syed Painted as a Shade of Brown

Serial went viral last year with coverage of Maryland v. Adnan Syed. In 1999, the state charged Adnan Syed with the murder of his high school classmate. Despite being born in the U.S., the prosecution colored their description of Syed with “Pakistani” and “Muslim” and without tempering by the defense. Members of the jury later admitted that his “background” was a focus of their deliberations. SABA North America published an op-ed in the Baltimore Sun, questioning whether the use of race and religion was appropriate in the case. Join us for a panel discussion that includes Rabia Chaudry, the childhood friend of Adnan Syed and attorney who has advocated for the reversal of his conviction. Our panel is rounded out by Neil Singh, Assistant Attorney General, Arizona Attorney General’s Office; Amisha Patel, Managing Associate, General Litigation, Orrick.

This panel will feature speakers from the White House Domestic Policy Council, the American Immigration Council and academia. Our panel will focus on explaining significant changes to and uncertainty within our immigration system as a result of Presidential executive action. Our panel will focus on the following topics:

1) The scope of executive action; what changes have occurred thus far and what other changes to our immigration system can we expect this year?

2) The scope of Presidential authority to enact executive action, especially as it relates to the DACA and DAPA programs that are the subject of ongoing litigation before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas v. USA.

This year’s annual Supreme Court roundup will analyze the High Court’s most significant cases and decisions from the 2014-2015 Term. Once again, the Supreme Court will be confronting some of the most important issues of the day, and our panel will break down the most important aspects of those cases. Among the issues that the Court—and therefore the panel—will address are: same-sex marriage; the latest challenge to “Obamacare”; criminal procedure; employment discrimination; religious liberty; and freedom of speech. Our panelists are Pratik Shah, Partner, co-head of Supreme Court and Appellate practice, Akin Gump; Kannon K. Shanmugam, Partner, heads Supreme Court and appellate litigation practice, Williams & Connolly LLP; and Tejinder Singh, Partner, Goldstein & Russell, P.C..

Officers of the Court: Judicial tips for avoiding the most common and most serious ethical dilemmas facing lawyers todayEthics

In our “Officers of the Court” Ethics CLE, the Hon. Sanjay Taylor, the Hon. Alka Sagar and the Hon. Justin Anand will provide their perspective on the most common and most serious ethical dilemmas facing lawyers today. Lee Rudofsky, Assistant General Counsel at Walmart, will moderate as our panel of distinguished jurists will focus on helping lawyers identify, avoid, and resolve ethical dilemmas that could otherwise derail or damage a promising legal career.

Caught in the Crossfire: National Security & Civil Liberties in an Age of Profiling & SurveillancePublic Interest/Civil Rights

Since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, South Asian, Arab, Muslim, and Sikh community members have borne the brunt of discriminatory law enforcement tactics in the name of national security. From surveillance, to profiling, to infiltration, to unjust harassment and interrogations, these communities fight for their safety, and to preserve their religious freedoms and cultural identities. This panel will discuss the different tactics used to defend rights, including ongoing litigation, legislative initiatives, community organizing, and building political power. Attendees will learn about the opportunities and challenges faced by community-based organizations, legal non-profits, and individuals when advocating for the communities they represent. The discussion will also focus on the reforms needed to ensure that civil liberties are protected, and whether there is indeed a necessary tradeoff between security and liberty. Our panelists include Amol Sinha, Director, Suffolk County Chapter, New York Civil Liberties Union; Hina Shamsi, Director, National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union; and Muhammed Malik, Former Executive Director, CAIR Florida.

The Fifth Anniversary of the Affordable Care ActHealthcare

We will touch on a variety of fresh issues related to the ACA as it celebrates its fifth anniversary. These include: (1) updates on recent litigation, including King v. Burwell; (2) efforts to repeal portions of the ACA by Congress; (3) the practical implications for key stakeholders (hospitals, physicians, and individuals; and (4) an update on the exchange roll out and its impact. The panel includes Priya Bathija, Senior Associate Director, Policy, American Hospital Association; Dr. Sanjeev Sriram, Attending Pediatrician and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Children’s National Medical Center; Ritu Kaur Cooper, Shareholder, Hall Render; and Anjana D. Patel, Member, Epstein Becker Green.

Picking Your Winning Jury: A Mock Voir DireLitigation

Jury selection is one of the most important aspects of trial. The difference between winning and losing can come down to the ability to get the right jury for your case. Come watch a live voir dire demonstration with actual jury eligible participants answering questions from attorneys representing the plaintiff and defendant, and with a judge overseeing the proceedings. Following the questioning, the lawyers will explain their strategies, the panel of experts will discuss what worked and what didn’t and why, and you’ll hear from the jurors themselves on how they perceived the process. The audience will be provided with a case description and background information about the mock jurors in advance, so they can participate in rating the potential jurors and share how their strategies may have differed from those presented. Attendees of this session will come away with fresh ideas for jury selection and concrete, practical advice that you can take and apply to your next jury trial, no matter what the subject matter may be. Our panel includes Vishal Patel, Associate, Thompson & Knight, LLP; Rahul Ravipudi, Partner, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP; Sonia Chopra, Senior Litigation Consultant, NJP Litigation Consulting; Vinoo Varghese, Partner, Varghese & Associates, P.C.; Sanjeev Bhasker, Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of Texas; and the Hon. George C. Thomas, Judge, Municipal Court of the City of Austin.

The last year saw a deluge of highly-public data breaches at household names, from Nieman Marcus to Anthem to JP Morgan Chase. Panelists will include attorneys with experience advising clients on these issues and technical professionals on the front lines of the battle against black-hat hackers. We will discuss what companies should be doing in anticipation of and in response to a data breach. Finally, the panel will discuss what claims a company could have against vendors and other parties in connection with a data breach. The panel will include Aravind Swaminathan, Parter, White Collar and Corporate Investigations, Orrick; Chintan Amin, Senior Counsel, Corporate Law and Compliance, Bayer Corporation; and Nathan Leong, Attorney, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft.

Social media and advertising are critical tools in brand identity and marketing. The legal aspects of both are constantly changing. It is important to design internal corporate policies that curb risks to the company and the brand. The discussion will cover corporate blogs, social media feeds/pages, internet advertising/posting, and electronic communications, and what risks are associated with the various media and advertising tools.

There are a myriad of agencies in place (from the Federal Trade Commission to the Food and Drug Administration to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) that regulate and oversee technology, pharmaceutical, energy, and insurance companies. The discussion will cover who, what, where and how to efficiently deal with various regulators, whether it is providing data to a regulator or responding to an investigation, while still protecting your company and its business.

A number of corporations conduct employee training and education on a yearly basis, but does the training cover areas to avoid litigation that can be distracting and impact employee morale. This discussion will provide tips on how to be proactive before the start of any litigation, including how to review a company’s policies and procedures, what steps can and should be taken prior to litigation, and what can be changed in response to litigation.